Find the best deals for each month of the year

January

January

Cashmere

It’s the end of the season for retailers, but you have a couple more months to enjoy cuddly sweaters and scarves, now on clearance. However, not all cashmere is worth it, even at a discount. What you need to know:

GET GOOD FIBER Check the tag for two-ply yarn (two threads twisted together). One-ply is fragile and more susceptible to pilling and tearing. And skip the über-fuzzy — it feels nice new, but will sprout ugly pills in no time

SHY AWAY FROM SHEER Hold up the sweater and place your hand inside, behind the fabric. If you can see your hand, the material is insubstantial and probably won’t hold up well

LOOK WITHIN Turn a sweater inside out to see how it’s finished. If it’s knitted rather
than sewn together, and the cuffs and neck are knitted right to the body, it’s a keeper. Stitched seams are more likely to split and are a sign of lesser quality

February

February

Burn off those Valentine's Day chocolates and save a bundle while you're at it — fitness equipment, such as treadmills and elliptical machines, is usually on sale this month. Before you get moving:

MIX IT UP Interval training is a simple way to burn fat fast. New to this kind of exercise? Try a machine like the stair climber that lets you alter your pace easily.

EASY DOES IT If larger exercise machines are out of your price range even at a discount, don't despair — look for low-tech fitness equipment, like a stability ball, instead.

WALK IT OFF Treadmills are sometimes thought of as boring, but these machines are about more than just walking in place. Look for models that will let you adjust the incline, and you'll be able to change up the intensity of a fantastic low-impact workout.